Summary

A global technology company preparing to launch a new sports app needed a team of 30 content specialists to support curation and quality assurance. The team had to be recruited, trained, and deployed within six weeks, all under strict confidentiality. We delivered the full team on time, enabled 24/7 shift coverage from day one, and supported a successful launch with no security breaches. The recruitment and onboarding model was later reused in other regions as the app expanded.

Background

The client is a major consumer technology company expanding its media offerings into the live sports space. In early 2024, they were preparing to launch a new app designed to deliver curated sports content, live coverage, and real-time notifications to users.

Since the app was still confidential, the client needed a trusted partner to quickly build an on-site team to support metadata curation and bug reporting before launch. This case was especially time-sensitive, launching shortly after the holiday season, and required total operational readiness under tight security controls.

Challenge

The client had to launch the new sports app within a strict timeline. To do this, they needed to:

• Hire and onboard 30 content specialists in the US
• Ensure 24/7 shift coverage within a secure, in-person environment
• Maintain complete confidentiality (no leaks could occur before launch)
• Recruit with minimal role detail, as much of the project information was under NDA
• Deliver this in under six weeks, starting in January 2024

The main risks were failing to meet the launch deadline or having sensitive information leak before the app was publicly announced. Both would have carried significant reputational and operational consequences.

Solution

To meet the timeline and maintain confidentiality, we focused on a few key areas:

• Hired locally to meet the tight timeline while ensuring in-person oversight and compliance with confidentiality protocols.
• Defined the right candidate profile early, drawing from previous sports-related projects. We looked for people with strong sports knowledge, flexibility for shift work, and the ability to work discreetly on-site.
• Brought new hires in through bi-weekly cohorts, which made onboarding smoother and allowed us to scale without overwhelming the training process.
• Involved experienced team leads from Cupertino, who flew in to help train the first cohorts. Their support ensured alignment with quality standards and internal expectations.
• Introduced a quick sports knowledge test mid-project to improve candidate screening and reduce interview time.
• Handled security proactively, with confidentiality briefings and access protocols built into the process from day one.

By the time the app launched in March 2024, the full team was up and running with training complete, workflows in place, and shift coverage fully operational. Much of this was possible thanks to the client’s clear direction and quick coordination across internal stakeholders.

Results & Business Outcomes

The project delivered exactly what the client needed on time, at scale, and without compromise. 

By focusing on speed, structure, and discretion, we helped ensure a smooth product launch and laid the groundwork for future regional expansions. Key outcomes were:

• 30 specialists hired, trained, and deployed in under six weeks, meeting a tight staffing timeline.
• 100% shift coverage in place by launch week, supporting 24/7 operations from day one.
• No confidentiality breaches, despite the high-profile nature of the project and the size of the team.
• App launched on time, with fully curated, high-quality sports content and no delays tied to staffing or training.
• Onboarding and training model scaled successfully.

Positive client feedback on speed, reliability, and the team’s ability to deliver under pressure.

Lessons Learned

This project showed that large-scale hiring under time and security constraints is possible with the right systems in place. A few key lessons stood out:

• Clear role definitions early in the process save time later
• Batch onboarding with peer support enables quick scaling
• Pre-screening tests improve candidate quality
• Security and speed can coexist when expectations are well-managed
  

By combining structured recruitment, hands-on training, and operational discipline, we supported a high-stakes product launch on time and without risk.

Need help scaling human-led solutions under tight deadlines? See how Welo Data supports fast, secure content operations.